I if had 50k id buy a used van and customize it myself for wayyyyyy cheaper and use the rest of the money for travelling and surfing, as would pretty much any other surfer. We aren't looking for luxury vans just something that can sleep 2-3 ppl and with an engine in good shape that wont break down often

Jul 11, 2014, 09:24 PM

sbx

Shame they're discontinuing the E Series. OP should spend his energy on a 4x4 conversion for the Promaster, he could corner that market.

Jul 11, 2014, 09:24 PM

goosemagoo

Make sure to give it a subtle paint job so the locals don't see you as some agro traveler.

I if had 50k id buy a used van and customize it myself for wayyyyyy cheaper and use the rest of the money for travelling and surfing, as would pretty much any other surfer. We aren't looking for luxury vans just something that can sleep 2-3 ppl and with an engine in good shape that wont break down often

This.

Your boss is right. Surfers aren't going to spend 40k on a road vehicle. If I had 40k to blow on just surfing, I'd take boat trips in Indo every year for the next 20 years. That'd be WAY better than a tricked out ride to the beach.

If I had to spend the money on a vehicle, I'd get a boat.

If I had to spend the money on a road vehicle, I'd buy a solid used 4X4, install roof racks, a solar shower, a cooler, maybe a snorkel kit, and then spend the remaining 20k on trips to Indo. Who takes a brand-new super customized vehicle and parks it in the salt spray?

Your customer looks to be rich yupsters or trust fund babies who want ultra-specific customized vehicles to show off. If I saw something like that parked at my home break, I'd wax the windows. If I tried to drive something like that to some breaks around here, it would either be a window-smashing-theif magnet, have it's tires slashed, or both.

Jul 11, 2014, 10:20 PM

macgregorsmith

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurfVanMan

Hi everyone, I am a surfer/windsurfer and I work for a company that builds custom vans on the RAM ProMaster chassis. Currently, we are only building luxury "conversion vans" and handicap accessible vans, but I am trying to get my boss to build a van specifically designed for surfing. He is not a surfer and does not realize that there is a demand for this type of van.

I created a page on our website where you can tell us what kind of van you want built and what equipment you would include. My goal is to get surfers everywhere to fill out this form and convince my boss that we NEED to build this van! So follow the link below and lets make this happen. If he sees the demand, he will build the van!

My company builds custom Sprinter Vans and buses. I have been trying to get my boss/uncle to build a surf van for years. The sad truth of the matter is that not enough surfers have the dough to shell out $80K plus on a surf van. But by god it would be really cool. I told him I would be happy to drive it around to show potential customers. I would take it to the best spots at the best times of the year. I would sell them from the comfort of my board out in the line up.

Jul 12, 2014, 02:54 AM

MY SAVIOR

Go buy an E350 12 Passenger and throw some racks on top. I can pile my wife and 7 kids in the van. Only put boards on top when I am traveling distance. I can put 8-10 surfboards in the van and 6-8 bodyboards. That is 14-18 boards at a time plus the family + 1 in November. Throw a couple Impacting the coast for Jesus signs on the Van and I am out on the mission field. As a matter of fact camp comes early 2morrow at the beach at 6:30 and 2FT and clean.......

Jul 12, 2014, 03:12 AM

metard

Quote:

Originally Posted by MY SAVIOR

Go buy an E350 12 Passenger and throw some racks on top. I can pile my wife and 7 kids in the van. Only put boards on top when I am traveling distance. I can put 8-10 surfboards in the van and 6-8 bodyboards. That is 14-18 boards at a time plus the family + 1 in November. Throw a couple Impacting the coast for Jesus signs on the Van and I am out on the mission field. As a matter of fact camp comes early 2morrow at the beach at 6:30 and 2FT and clean.......

7 kids and you have time to troll this forum?

be real dog

Jul 12, 2014, 03:30 AM

MY SAVIOR

+1 in November........Not trolling, just fishing if you know what I am saying!

Jul 12, 2014, 03:38 AM

leetymike808

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZombieSurfer

Build me something like the pics below and now we're talking. Perfect surf vehicles, lifted E series vans, 4x4 with plenty of room for gear and sleeping/living space

Zombiesurfer has it right on the money with these. If you are driving a van to a surf destination odds are its gonna be like baja, so it has to be ballsy and able to make it over potholed out "roads", dont think that conversion van would fit the bill.

Other than that a van is only used as a Hobo mansion and those need to be one thing...cheap.